Labroides dimidiatus
Encounter Rate
Spotting Difficulty
Best Season
Year-round
Depth Range
1-30 meters
The cleaner wrasse is one of the most ecologically important small fish on Komodo's reefs, operating cleaning stations where larger fish queue up to have parasites, dead skin, and mucous removed from their bodies. This slender, elongated fish, reaching just 14 centimetres, is easily identified by its blue body with a bold black lateral stripe that broadens toward the tail. Cleaner wrasses perform a distinctive dancing display to advertise their services — bobbing up and down at their station to attract clients. The client fish, which can include species many times the cleaner's size, adopt a passive posture with fins spread and mouths open, allowing the tiny wrasse to work over their entire body including inside the mouth and gills. In Komodo, cleaning stations are found at most reef sites and provide some of the most fascinating behavioural observations available on any dive. Predators like groupers and moray eels that could easily eat the cleaner wrasse instead submit to its services — a remarkable example of mutualism. Studies have shown that reefs without cleaner wrasses have significantly fewer and less healthy fish populations, highlighting their outsized ecological importance.
Average Size
7-10cm
Size Range
3-14cm
Maximum Size
14cm
Feeds on parasites, dead skin, and mucous removed from client fish at cleaning stations. Also consumes small crustaceans and zooplankton.
The cleaner wrasse is one of the most ecologically important small fish on Komodo's reefs, operating cleaning stations where larger fish queue up to have parasites, dead skin, and mucous removed from their bodies. This slender, elongated fish, reaching just 14 centimetres, is easily identified by its blue body with a bold black lateral stripe that broadens toward the tail. Cleaner wrasses perform a distinctive dancing display to advertise their services — bobbing up and down at their station to attract clients. The client fish, which can include species many times the cleaner's size, adopt a passive posture with fins spread and mouths open, allowing the tiny wrasse to work over their entire body including inside the mouth and gills. In Komodo, cleaning stations are found at most reef sites and provide some of the most fascinating behavioural observations available on any dive. Predators like groupers and moray eels that could easily eat the cleaner wrasse instead submit to its services — a remarkable example of mutualism. Studies have shown that reefs without cleaner wrasses have significantly fewer and less healthy fish populations, highlighting their outsized ecological importance.
This species plays an important role in the marine ecosystem of Komodo National Park. Responsible diving practices help protect these animals and their habitat for future generations.
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The mutual benefit is too great. Removing parasites improves the health and survival of client fish, making the cleaning service more valuable than a tiny meal. This mutualism has evolved over millions of years and is one of the most remarkable relationships on the reef.
